Chargers won't get late-season bailout against Denver again

Antonio Gates makes a reception in recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Gates says the team knows not to expect any late-season miracles if they trail the Broncos again in December.
— Sean M. Haffey / San Diego Union-Tribune

Antonio Gates makes a reception in recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Gates says the team knows not to expect any late-season miracles if they trail the Broncos again in December.
— Sean M. Haffey / San Diego Union-Tribune

U-T Multimedia

SAN DIEGO – All through last November and into December, a strand of the thread of hope the Chargers hung onto was the thought that they would get another shot at the Denver Broncos at season's end.

Not this year.

There will likely be no chance at a December miracle in 2009, and the Chargers know it.

Their next game, on Oct. 19 against the AFC West-leading Broncos, begins a run of three straight games against division opponents and a span of seven weeks in which the Chargers will play five AFC West games and wrap up division play Nov. 29.

“This is the bulk of our season coming up,” tight end Antonio Gates said Tuesday. “ ... That's it. At that point, there is no way we're going to play them again and make nothing up like we did last year.”

The Chargers' epic comeback from three games down to win the West in 2008 featured three December victories over their pathetic AFC West counterparts.

Well, not only do the Broncos appear anything but pathetic – at 4-0, they have the league's ninth-ranked offense and second-ranked defense – but the Chargers will play them this month and then Nov. 22 at Denver.

“Our window is a lot smaller than it was last year based on how the opportunity presents itself,” Gates said. “It presents itself early in the year. We don't have a chance to make it up late in the year.”

So while it is only the season's fourth week, Chargers players acknowledge there is a sense of urgency brought on by the schedule.

“We have this stretch with the next three against division opponents, and we're done with the division early,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. “We know this stretch is critical for us. We're going to have to play good football. We're going to have to get at our peak in a hurry.”

For now, the Chargers are just two games back and play Denver twice. While the Chargers are off Sunday, the Broncos will be hosting the New England Patriots.

“If the Patriots take care of business and win, we can be playing for first place again,” Gates said. “That's what I'm looking forward to. Even if Denver beats the Patriots, we're playing for first place, because we beat Denver once and we get a chance to play them again and beat them again.

“At this point you can control your own destiny.”

Just not for as long this year.

Defense meets longer

Two days after looking lost much of the night and allowing the Steelers 497 yards and 38 points, the Chargers defense met – as a whole and by position – for almost three hours Tuesday.

“We took a good look at some things,” defensive end Luis Castillo said.

Coordinator Ron Rivera addressed the entire defense, showing certain plays and making players accountable. Then they split into position groups.

The defensive line, then linebackers and then defensive backs emerged from those meetings an hour or more after the offensive groups had finished.

The Chargers defense continues to talk about not having played within the plays that were called as their main problem Sunday. They talked Tuesday about being accountable and trusting one another on the field.

“When you give up 500 yards you've got to regroup and then you've got to have a wake-up call,” linebacker Kevin Burnett said.

The Chargers had only meetings Tuesday. They have short practices Wednesday and Thursday before taking the rest of the week off.

Nuts 'n' Bolts

– Linebacker Antwan Applewhite, out the past three games with a hamstring injury, said Tuesday he hopes to be back in time for the Denver game.

– The Chargers' average time of possession is 26:44, 28th in the league.

– Gates has nine third-down receptions. All nine have converted first downs.